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Without experimentation, innovation is impossible. For Rochelle Jordan, thisdesire forsonicexpansion has beenlongembedded intoher fusion of futuristic and ancestrally soulful R&B.Tolisten to a ROJO song istoabsorbaphosphorescentbutsubtle blend ofsampledelic90spop,vintageUK house and garage, 31st century electronic bangers,fairylate night ballads,andprogressive hip-hop.OnPlay With the Changes, hernew albumonTOKiMONSTA’sYoung Art imprint,theToronto-raised, Los Angeles-basedJordanshowcases not just her own personal evolution, but apath to pushing sound forward.It presents her as amodernheir in a lineage of powerhousevocalists with style and imagination: everyone from Whitney Houstonto Celine Dion, Aaliyah toAmerie, Kelis to Mariah Carey.Born in London to British-Jamaican parents, Jordan and her family relocated to the eastside ofToronto in the early‘90s. Herfather, a drummer,encouragedher love of art and instilled anappreciation for Northern soul,andJamaican reggae and dancehall. Bleeding through the wallsof her childhood bedroom, the adolescent Jordan soaked in the record collection of her olderbrother:funkyUK house,nocturnaldrum and bass, garage, and all the gospel samples containedtherein.In the early years of the last decade, Jordan forged a closeand enduringmusical kinship withrising producer, KLSH, who had discovered herviaYouTube uploads of classic 90s R&Bcovers. Her first releases ROJO(2011) andPressure(2012) receivedblog acclaim and becameseminal works of the left-field R&B that defined much of the decade’s best output. Shequicklyfollowed it with 2013’s Origins, which revealed an astonishing ease and preternaturaleffortlessnesstoher sound. A singular ability to blend sultriness with grit, confidencewithaplayful experimental streak.In the wake of thoseprojects, Jordan’s career swiftlyelevated. After relocating from the 6 toL.A., the U.K. pop superstar Jessie Ware invited Jordan to open up for her on her first Americantour. Shortly thereafter, Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) conscripted Jordan to write on his2014 Grammy-nominated album,Because the Internet.That same year, Jordan unveiled1021,her first complete statement, an album that produced the multi-million streaming singles“Lowkey” and “Follow Me.”Pitchforknamed“Follow Me”oneof the most essential post-Drake Toronto tracks,ravingthatthe album was one of the best contemporary R&B albums of the last five years.WhileVicehailedJordan’s ability to“seamlessly bring in the house sounds of her UK birthplace, the glassyvibes of Toronto R&B,andthe sonic adventurousness andnow-classic influence of artists likeMissy Elliott.” Jordan even landed a stint doing voice over work for the Adult Swim show,BlackDynamite, where she appeared as Cindy in a memorable episode featuring Erykah Badu, Chancethe Rapper, and Mel B. of the Spice Girls.After a contemplative periodmarked by spiritual and artistic growth, Jordan returned witha slewof ethereal soul--collaborations withMachinedrum,Jacques Greene, and J-E-T-S. It all led upto the radiant breakthrough that isher new album,Play With the Changes.Produced by KLSH,Machinedrum, and Jimmy Edgar, Jordan defies categorizationtocreate a project full of slinky,